2003 Nairac
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Tasting notes
Remarkably deep in color, the 2003 Chateau Nairac has a smudged bouquet of orange rind, yellow flowers and dried quince that emerges with all guns blazing. The palate has plenty of mandarin orange rind and ripe peachy notes that feel fat and generous in the mouth, although it is missing some delineation on the finish compared to previous bottles. I would drink this now and over the next 4-5 years because I cannot see it improving further, though no doubt it will continue motoring for the next two decades. Drink now-2024. Tasted March 2014.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Pale, bright gold. Knockout nose offers orange marmalade, honey, creme caramel and a whiff of resiny oak. Unctuous and supersweet, with a wonderfully lush, chewy, seamless texture leavened by racy orange flavor and complemented by vanillin oak. This remarkably complex and unforced wine opened spectacularly with aeration, showing captivating red berry, rose petal and saline nuances to go with its deeper honey and toffee flavors. Conveys an impression of deep sweetness without any excess weight. Finishes bright and extremely long. A wine to buy by the case, although at press time I had not seen it yet in the U.S. market.
Green-gold. Rather simple butterscotch. Big, round and easy. Flattering, but not complex. (JR)
Medium yellow. High-toned nose hints at quinine and lime; shows a strong family resemblance to the 2002 here. Sappy and high-toned, with sexy candied fruit saladflavors. The powerful sweetness is nicely buffered by sound acidity and complicated by an exotic spice character. Highly concentrated, chewy and very long on the aftertaste.